Removable casket handle



P. J. BENBOUGH REMOVABLE CASKET HANDLE Filed Dec. 2, 1931 w "4 w 5 c Sept. 5, 1933.

attorney g wa /Z1) mi N Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to removable casket handles, and the objects of my invention are: v

First, to provide a casket handle of this class which may be readily and quickly secured in place or removed, yet which cannot accidentally be dislodged;

Second, to provide a casket handle of this class in which the exposed portions of the interlocking means thereof are adaptable to the form of ornamentation of the handle so as to apparently form a part thereof and conceal the removable nature of the handle;

Third, to provide a casket handle of this class which when once secured in position is interlocked against a strain in any direction;

Fourth, to provide a casket handle of this class in which the member which remains fixed to the casket is particularly simple and economical of manufacture, and

Fifth, to provide a casket handle of this class which is durable, efiicient in its action and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of my removable casket handle; Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the supporting bracket; Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the escutcheon with the handles shown fragmentarily; Fig. 4 is a slightly enlarged sectional view through 44 of Fig. l with parts and portions shown in elevation to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 5 is a similar sectional View with the interlocking means disengaged; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through 6-6 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through 7'? of Fig. 4.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

Supporting bracket 1, escutcheon 2, pin 3, locking lever 4, bolt member 5, retaining collar 6, spring 7, handle arms 8, and handle bar 9, constitute the principal parts and portions of my removable casket handle.

A supporting bracket 1 is provided which is adapted to be secured permanently to the casket. Said supporting bracket includes a plate portion 1a in which are formed screw holes. The lower margin of the supporting bracket is provided with a downwardly and outwardly directed projection or ridge 1b which extends the length of said margin. The central portion of the bracket 1 is provided with an outwardly and upwardly directed G0 tongue 10. The tongue 10 is relatively large and its upper side is provided with an arcuately curved portion 1d, the axis of curvature of which is horizontal and disposed inwardly and above the tongue 10.

The supporting bracket 1 is adapted to be covered by an escutcheon 2 which is considerably larger than the bracket. The escutcheon 2 is provided with a flat marginal portion 2a and a cupped central portion 2?) having its greatest depth along the vertical axis of the escutcheon and somewhat above the horizontal axis thereof. At this portion the escutcheon is provided with a vertically disposed slot 20. The slot 2c is bounded on its vertical sides by inwardly directed lugs 2d. The extended portion of the tongue 10 is adapted to fit between the lugs 2d and the sides thereof are finished or fitted, as indicated by 16, so that said tongue fits snugly between the lugs 2d.

Near the center of curvature of the arcuate face 1d there is provided a pin 3 which is supported by the lugs 2d. The pin 3 is adapted to journal the locking lever 4. The locking lever 4 includes a relatively large head 4a which fits within the escutcheon 2. When the lever is in its normal or looking position shown best in Fig. 4, the head portion 4a interlocks with the arcuately curved portion 1d of the supporting bracket. To this end the head portion 4a is provided with" 0 an arcuately curved portion 4b. Forwardly of the arcuate portion 41) the head 4a joins an arm 40 which extends outside of the escutcheon and is adapted to lay contiguous thereto, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 4, so as to form ostensibly a part of the ornamentation of the escutcheon and to cover the extended end of the tongue 10.

The head 4a of the locking lever extends into the slot 20 and the portion thereof above the arm 40 is flush with the outer surface of the escutcheon. The upper extremity of the exposed portion of the head 4a is provided with a socket 4d which is disposed radially with respect to the center of curvature of the locking lever. A channel 4e extends across the head 4a so as to intersect the outer extremity of the socket 4d. The socket 4d is adapted to receive the shank portion, designated 5a, of a bolt member 5. The head portion, designated 5b, of said bolt fits in the channel 4c. The shank 5a of the bolt 5 is provided with an annular channel 50 which receives a slit ring or retaining collar 6. The retaining collar is adapted to expand into a groove out into the wall of the socket 4d. The shank portion 5a is provided with a socket which is adapted to receive a spring 7. The lower or outward side of the bolt member 5 is beveled, while the upper or inner side thereof is strai ht so as to engage the upper margin of the slot 20, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The lower margin of the escutcheon 2 is provided with an upwardly directed ridge 26 which is adapted to interlock with the ridge or projection lb of the supporting bracket 1.

The escutcheon 2 is provided on either side of the operating arm ie of the locking lever with hinge brackets 2 1'' which support handle arms 8. The handle arms 8 in turn support a handle bar 9.

The operation of my removable casket handle is as follows:

The escutchcon with. the locking lever in the position shown in Fig. 5 is placed over the supporting bracket 1 in such a manner that the extended portion of the projection 1c fits between the lugs 2d. The escutcheon is then slipped upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5, causing the ridges lb 26 to interlock. The locking lever is then sh. ted from the position shown in 5 to the position shown in. Fig. l, which causes the arcuate portions 1d and ib to engage. These portions may be arranged slightly ctr-center so that they draw the escutcheon tightly and firmly. against the supporting bracket and the side of the When the locking lever has once shifted to the position shown in 4, the bolt 5 shifts outwardly into the upper portion of the slot 2c which forms a keeper therefor. In order to release the escutcheon the bolt 5 be pressed inwardly at the same time shifting outwardly with the lower port-ion of the locking lever. It can thus be seen that once the escutcheon is in position it cannot possibly work loose accidentally may be subjected to strain in any direction without giving way.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a removable casket handle, a fixed supporting bracket including oppositely directed oliset interlocking portions, and a removable escutcheon including a fixed interlocking means for one of said interlocking portions, a shiftable interlocking means including a lever pivoted interiorly of said escutoheon and extending therethrough for the other of said int rlocking portions, and bolt and keeper means for retaining said shiftable interlocking means in its interlocked condition.

2. In a removable casket handle. a fixed supporting member including a downwardly and outwardly directed lip, and an upwardly and outwardly directed interlocking projection. a removable escutcheon arranged to cover said supporting member, including a portion arranged to interlock with said lip, shiftable interlocking means including a lever pivoted interiorly of said escutcheon and extending outwardly therethrough and provided with a lug interiorly of said escutcheon arranged to coact with said interlocking projection, and bolt and keeper means for retaining said shiftable interlocking means in its interlocked condition.

3. In a removable casket handle, a fixed support, a removable escutcheon, interlockable projections on said support and escutcheon, a tongue projecting upwardly and outwardly from said support, centering means associated with said escutcheon for receiving said tongue, an inter-- locking lever supported from and extending outwardly from the exterior of said escutcheon arranged to engage said tongue, and a bolt and keeper means mounted on said lever and escutcheon for retaining said lever in its locked condition.

4. In a removable casket handle, a fixed supporting member including a plate adapted to be secured to the casket, said plate provided with anoutwardly and downwardly directed relatively long lip portion, and an upwardly and outwardly directed tongue portion, a removable escutcheon arranged to cover said supporting member including a portion arranged near the lower margin of said escutcheon to interlock with said lip portion, a lever pivotally mounted on the interior of said esoutcheon and,extending outwardly past the exterior thereof adapted to engage said tongue ancl secure said escutcheon rigidly on said plate, and a spring latch mounted on said lever adapted to engage said escutoheon and prevent the shifting of said lever.

5. In a removable casket handle, a fixed supporting plate adapted to be secured on the side of a casket and provided with a downwardly and outwardly directed relatively long lip portion and with a central upwardly and outwardly directed interlocking tongue portion, a removable escutcheon arranged to cover said supporting member including a similarly long groove near the lower margin of said escutcheon arranged to interlock with said lip, a centering means arranged to engage the sides of said tongue for guiding said escutcheon to the proper position on said plate, and lever and latch means pivotally mounted on said escutcheon with an extended portion extending outwardly from the exterior of said escutcheon and interlocking means adapted to interlock with said tongue portion on the interior of said escutcheon, said latch means shiftable into and out of engagement with the walls ofv said escutcheon for latching and unlatching said handle.

6. In a removable casket handle, a support, an escutcheon fitting thereover, a first interlocking means including fixed coacting elements on said escutcheon and said support, a lever pivotally connected in the interior oi said escutcheon and protruding outwardly therethrough, a second interlocking means including coasting members on said lever and said support, and a catch and keeper means including elements in said escutcheon and said lever for securing said lever relative to said escutcheon upon coaction of the members of said two interlocking means.

PERCY J. BENBOUGH. 

